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Colombia - Mega Birding Tour

© Toucan Barbets by Adam Riley

Colombia is undoubtedly the most diverse and exciting country on Earth. With two coastlines, four cordilleras, and a vast expanse of Amazonian rainforest habitats, one could spend years searching out all the natural wonders that it holds. Our Mega tour spends a month traversing all three Andean Chains and exploinge the depths of the Magdalena and Cauca Valleys. From the white sand and terra firme forests of Inírida, to the humid Choco, we will sample the richest rainforests in the country. Finally, from the dry Caribbean coast, up lush slopes to the San Lorenzo Ridge, we will enjoy the best of the legendary, endemic-rich, Santa Marta Mountains. This tour is hands down the single most comprehensive offer to experience the most biodiverse nation in the world, and we welcome you to join us on this amazing challenge!

Flights to Inírida are operated by a single airline, with a variable schedule. It is highly likely that the tour logistics will require adjustments closer to departure once the flight schedules are confirmed.

Top Birds

Bogota Rail; Cauca Guan; Chestnut-winged & Colombian Chachalacas; Chestnut Wood Quail; Red-fan, Yellow-eared & Rusty-faced Parrots; Golden-plumed, Rufous-fronted, Barred, Cobalt-winged & Santa Marta Parakeets; Santa Marta Screech Owl; White-tipped Quetzal; Pompadour & Purple-breasted Cotingas; Capuchinbird; Red-ruffed Fruitcrow; Red-bellied Grackle; Black-collared Jay; Beautiful Woodpecker; Orinoco & Chestnut Piculets; White-mantled Barbet; Crescent-faced, Cundinimarca, Brown-banded, Slaty-crowned, Muisca & Bicolored Antpittas; Grey-cheeked Nunlet; Brown-banded Puffbird; Antioquia Bristle Tyrant; Pale-bellied, Narino, Magdalena, Stiles’s & Tatama Tapaculos; Golden-breasted & Orange-breasted Fruiteaters; Silvery-throated & White-whiskered Spinetails; Recurve-billed & Black Bushbirds; Bar-crested & Klage's Antshrikes; Turquoise Dacnis; Bronze-tailed & Rainbow-bearded Thornbills; Sapphire-bellied, Indigo-capped, Chestnut-bellied & Shining-green Hummingbirds; Santa Marta Blossomcrown; Black Inca; Empress Brilliant; Blue-throated Starfrontlet; Buffy Helmetcrest; Black-thighed & Coppery-bellied Pufflegs; Pacific Tuftedcheek; White-tailed Hillstar; Fiery Topaz; White-bibbed, Golden-collared, Black, Lance-tailed & Yellow-headed Manakins; Rose-breasted Chat, Yapacana, Chestnut-crested & Magdalena Antbirds; Choco Vireo; Bicolored Antvireo; Ruddy Foliage-gleaner; Amazonian Umbrellabird; Orinoco Softtail; Chestnut-capped & Olivaceous Pihas; Apolinar’s, White-headed, Chestnut-breasted, Niveforo's & Sooty-headed Wrens; Munchique Wood Wren; Rufous-rumped Antwren; Indigo & Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercers; Masked Saltator; Uniform Treehunter; Star-chested Treerunner; Fulvous-breasted Flatbill; Black Solitaire; Yellow-collared & Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonias; Crested & Sooty Ant Tanagers; Purplish-mantled, Glistening-green, Black-and-gold, Gold-ringed, Multicolored & White-capped Tanagers; Black-chinned Mountain Tanager; Antioquia, Choco, Santa Marta, Ochre-breasted, Sierra Nevada, Pale-naped, Moustached & Black-headed Brushfinches; Colombian Mountain Grackle.

Top Mammals

South American & Mountain Coatis; Crab-eating Fox; Pale-throated Three-toed, Brown-throated & Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloths; Black-eared Opossum; Colombian Red Howler Monkey; Variegated Spider Monkey; Silvery-brown & Mottle-cheeked Tamarins; Grey-handed Night Monkey; White-throated, Guianan Brown & White-fronted Capuchins; Tapeti; Central American Agouti; Santander Dwarf, Western Dwarf, Red-tailed, Northern Amazon Red & Andean Squirrels; Tayra; Ocelot; Jaguarundi; Long-tailed Weasel; Red Brocket and White-tailed Deer.

Habitats Covered

Amazonian terra firme and white sand forest, Paramo and Elfin Forest, montane lakes and xerophytic scrub, coastal lagoons, mangroves, grasslands & wetlands

Expected Climate

Temperate to cold in highlands (Los Nevados, Santa Marta), hot and humid in the lowlands (Rio Claro, Inírida). Rain is likely on some days.

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

Our Mega tours are very fast-paced birding adventures designed for the dedicated lister and serious birder. The focus of the tour is to see as many of the endemics and area specials as possible in our given time. In order to cover the necessary route to maximise the species list we tend to spend a single night at most sites and travel large distances. There is very little down time aside from that spent driving from one site to the next. These tours are not suitable for dedicated or avid photographers; inexperienced or new birders; as well as anyone with serious mobility or health challenges.

Accommodation

basic to comfortable

Ease of Birding

moderate with some challenging species

Number of Species Expected

900+

Other Attractions

Spectacular scenery in Los Nevados and Santa Marta Mountains, rarely seen mammals.

Photographic Opportunities

limited due to time constraints

What our clients say about us

Tuomas Seimola
GP, Colombia 2019

Tuomas was excellent. He was an excellent birder and group leader, ensuring the everyone saw each bird. He was persistent in pursuing our target birds but knew when enough was enough for the day. Tuomas has an easy going manner, but he (and the local leader) were efficient and effective in dealing with problems in the field or with the accomodation.

Forrest Rowland
DP - Colombia 2019

No one beats Rockjumper and Forrest Rowland for running wonderful trips. The logistics are incredible and involving so many Colombians to get us places and up steep trails were amazing. Thanks to all involved at Rockjumper for making this trip possible.

Robert Williams
JP, Colombia 2021

I was extremely pleased with Rob and his ability to locate birds and get all members of the group on them for viewing. This was no small task given the reclusive nature of many of the species and the size of our group. In addition to Robs valuable birding skills are his management skills in planning and timing and surmounting both the usual and the unexpected difficulties associated with delays and circumstances. Rob is extremely knowledgeable and has excellent communication skills. His stories are informative and most often entertaining. He was a fun guide and I give him a 5 star plus rating.

Forrest Rowland
LR, Colombia 2018

Forrest Rowland is an incredible guide.

Dušan Brinkhuizen
CS, Colombia 2021

Dušan was an amazing guide. His acute hearing and anticipation of where the birds would be was extraordinary. He had a well balanced sensibility in regards to our limits and possibilities and was always exercising his desire that everyone in the group was able to see each bird we encountered as best as the circumstances permitted. His passion for birding was very apparent and sincere. Dušan's communication and updates as things changed benefited the whole group.

Colombia - Mega Birding Tour II 2024

15 Nov 2024 - 14 Dec 2024 (30 days)

USD11,995 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Carlos Bocos

Tour price (Per person): USD11,995 * GBP9,693 * EUR11,257 * AUD18,677

Single Supplement: USD810 * GBP655 * EUR760 * AUD1,261

Flight costs: USD710 * GBP574 * EUR666 * AUD1,106

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